Gen Z, millennials: A sweet life online
Virtual appearance critical for most, study finds
After a year of virtual living during COVID-19, younger generations feel online presence is more important than real-life interactions, a study released Thursday shows.
The survey finds that 60% of Generation Z and 62% of millennials say that how you present yourself online is more crucial than how you appear in person.
On average, Americans visit more than eight websites per day, amounting to more than 3,000 per year, according to the study by Squarespace on how Americans engage with digital platforms.
Of the 2,032 adults surveyed, Squarespace found that Americans are becoming more invested in the online world, especially millennials and Gen Z.
“Browsing the web plays a central role in our daily lives, and Americans are skilled multitaskers – more than half typically watch TV while browsing,” said Kinjil Mathur, chief marketing officer at Squarespace. “Gen Z in particular (is) more likely than any other generation to visit websites while eating, listening to music, talking on the phone and even dancing. To stand out online, it’s crucial for individuals and brands to build an online presence that helps them capture attention.”
The survey found that among Gen Z and millennials, virtual life is more memorable. Nearly half, 49%, of Americans say they could better remember the color of a website than the color of someone’s eyes; 71% of millennial and 58% of Gen Z respondents agree.
Members of Gen Z are more likely to remember the last website they visited (43%) than their partner’s birthday (38%) or their own Social Security number (31%).
Younger generations are more adept at navigating social life online, the survey found.
The study found that 86% of Gen Z and 79% of millennials look people up online before meeting them for the first time, compared with 65% of Gen X and 44% of baby boomers.
“Our research underscores the importance of putting your best digital self forward. In fact, nearly half of Gen Z’ers say they make a better impression online than in person,” Mathur said. “A well-designed online presence ensures that you’re comfortable with how you’re presenting yourself to both future prospects and your existing network.”